Clermont Auvergne overcame a ferocious Ospreys fightback to retain their proud European home record with a bonus-point 34-29 win in Pool Two of the Champions Cup.

Racing Metro 92 11 Saracens 12: Marcelo Bosch basked in the gratitude of his team-mates after kicking Saracens into the semi-finals of the Champions Cup in dramatic scenes in north Paris.

In a tense, edgy week for the Munster squad, Paul O’Connell found one aspect of relief ahead of tomorrow’s Champions Cup showdown with Saracens — it wouldn’t be him having to deal too often with the unpredictable bounce of the Londoners’ artificial surface, writes Simon Lewis.

Saracens 30 Clermont Auvergne 23

Wingers Chris Ashton and David Strettle propelled Saracens to a 30-23 bonus point victory over Clermont in their Champions Cup grudge match at Allianz Park.

Saracens 64 Connacht 6

Saracens 64 Connacht 6

HEINEKEN CUP POOL THREE:

Saracens 12 Toulon 24

England 38 Scotland 18

Saracens 19 Munster 13

Saracens 3 Clermont Auvergne 22

David Strettle has returned to the England team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations finale against Ireland in place of Charlie Sharples after recovering from a sternum injury.

Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples will make his first England start in tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France in place of the injured David Strettle.

It has been an interesting and revealing few weeks in the evolution of this Irish team.

England 12 Wales 19

Italy 15 England 19

Saracens 20 Biarritz 16

Joe Worsley is set to miss out on playing in his fourth Rugby World Cup after being cut from England's training squad.

England stood on the brink of completing their first Grand Slam since 2003, with Ireland the final obstacle between themselves and European rugby’s most treasured prize.

SARACENS kept the pressure on the Aviva Premiership leaders yesterday, inflicting another defeat on struggling London Irish.

Saracens 21 Racing Metro 24

Saracens are hopeful they can complete a deal to sign unsettled Wales star Gavin Henson.

Saracens 23 Leinster 25

Australian Barbarians 9 England 15

MARTIN JOHNSON admitted England must become smarter after suffering a second-half collapse in yesterday’s 35-26 victory over the Barbarians.

Saracens have confirmed the signing of England wing David Strettle from Harlequins for the start of the 2010/11 season.

MICHAEL BRADLEY reckons Paddy Wallace is ready to reclaim his Ireland centre jersey in the Six Nations opener against Italy.

Harlequins 5 Leinster 6

Harlequins 27 Northampton 6

SALE SHARKS will enter a Heineken Cup cauldron today without two of their main ingredients — England World Cup stars Mathew Tait and Andrew Sheridan.

TOPSY OJO and Mike Brown have been found guilty of misconduct during England’s ill-fated tour to New Zealand.

New Zealand 37 England 20

England 17 Barbarians 14

CARDIFF BLUES winger Jamie Roberts will make his Wales debut in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash with Scotland after head coach Warren Gatland made three changes to the side that beat England last weekend.

England flanker Tom Rees will miss the rest of the RBS 6 Nations championship after his club Wasps confirmed he has suffered a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Jonny Wilkinson looks set to clear a second major hurdle tomorrow by keeping his place in the England team for next Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Italy.

WALES coach Warren Gatland looks set to change a winning team when his Twickenham heroes continue their quest for the RBS 6 Nations title against Scotland in Cardiff next Saturday.

England 19 Wales 26

Gloucester number eight Luke Narraway will make his Test debut in a surprise selection for England's RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.

CARDIFF BLUES stayed firmly on course for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals last night, after subduing Harlequins’ spirited resistance at a windswept Arms Park.

BRISTOL secured their third win of the season against Harlequins at the Memorial Stadium yesterday to keep the pressure on Cardiff Blues at the top of Heineken Cup Pool Three.

England have formally ruled Harlequins wing David Strettle out of their World Cup campaign.